I STARED at the ghostly Miss Austen, then slowly reached out and took her hand. Once again, I felt her intelligence effervesce in my veins, only this time there was a decided warmth to her touch. I dragged my mind away from the sensation and met her gaze squarely.
‘Thank you, Miss Austen. I’d like us to be friends.’
‘Good. And if you will but remember to call me Jane, we shall deal very well together.’
‘I’ll try… Jane.’ I smiled at her, and pulled out my phone. ‘Let’s cement this friendship with a selfie,’ I said, moving around to stand beside her. Maybe this time the photo would work. ‘Smile, Jane.’ And before she could ask questions, I’d held up my phone and taken half a dozen shots.
‘Whatever are you doing, Cassandra?’ demanded Jane.
‘Trying to take a picture of you and me together.’ I flicked through the photos. They were all of… me. Jane was nowhere to be seen. ‘Okay, that didn’t work.’ I put down the phone. ‘I don’t think you can be photographed, so let’s try this instead.’ I pointed at the television. ‘You’ll want to watch this.’
Jane stared in surprise at the blank screen. ‘I cannot imagine why I should wish to do so, for it is only a dark window with nothing beyond its glass. Is this your notion of a jest, Cassandra?’
‘No.’ I picked up the remote. ‘I think you’ll like it. Jane.’ I grinned. ‘And in about two minutes you may very much enjoy meeting a man named Colin.’
She glanced around my bedroom and her eyes narrowed. ‘I could not countenance meeting him here, Cassandra. It would be most improper for a man to attend us in your bedchamber, do not you agree?’
I suppressed a giggle. ‘I do. It would be most improper. But don’t worry, Colin can join us and it will be perfectly proper. I promise.’ I pulled off my shoes and flopped onto the bed. ‘Come on, Jane.’ I patted the duvet. ‘Come and get comfy.’
‘Comfy?’
‘Comfortable. Sit back, relax, and get ready to enjoy a girls’ night in.’
‘Girls’ night in?’
‘Sure. Didn’t you and your sister ever just kick back together and … I don’t know … play music or talk about boys or something?’
‘Or something,’ she agreed and hovered primly over the end of the bed. I hit the on button, found the program I wanted on Netflix and pressed play. Moments later glorious piano music filled the room as the image of a hand embroidering fabric lit the screen.
Jane gasped and pulled back in alarm, but before she could speak, the words “in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice” appeared. She gave a cry and darted towards the television.
‘Good heavens, Cassandra. Those words were moving.’ She gestured urgently towards the screen. ‘And they said—did you see? There was my name and the name of one of my novels. What is this illusion—’ She stopped abruptly, looking wildly about the room as the music faded and the sound of horses’ hooves replaced it. She turned back to the screen just as a rider galloped into view, quickly followed by another. ‘What is it?’ cried Jane. ‘How… how can those little men be there – through that window – galloping across a fair prospect in the full light of day, when it is evening outside? What is this… thing that you are showing me?’
I hit the pause button and the picture froze. She stared in astonishment.
‘It’s television. The telly. TV.’ I pointed. ‘Those men on horseback aren’t really little – they’re regular human size. They’re actors, but instead of acting in a theatre they’re being recorded on what’s called film. The dark one is Colin, the man I wanted you to meet. He plays Mr Darcy in the TV version of your book.’
‘Extraordinary.’ Jane bent down to peer at the picture of Colin Firth frozen on his great black horse. ‘But how do they come to be in there?’
‘They’re not really in there. It’s like a whole series of moving pictures. Your novel, Pride and Prejudice, has been made it into a sort of play, but instead of going to the theatre to see it, it can be watched anywhere.’ I held up Aunty B’s phone. ‘Even on here.’
‘Is it safe?’ She poked a finger tentatively through the TV screen.
I chuckled. ‘The biggest risk in watching Pride and Prejudice is that you’ll fall in love with Mr Darcy. Almost everybody does.’
‘Fall in love with Mr Darcy—’
I held up my hand. ‘Don’t ask.’ I patted the bed again. ‘Come and watch. You’ll understand soon enough.’
She floated over and sank down beside me.
I snuggled back into my pillow. ‘Welcome to your first binge watch, Jane.’
‘Binge watch? What, pray, is a binge watch?’
‘You’ll see.’ I pressed play.